The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot drew sharply polarized reactions in the state on Tuesday, with Trump's allies blasting the decision as "flawed" and "undemocratic," while his foes mostly applauded the court for finding that Trump is ineligible under the Constitution.
In a 4-3 decision, Colorado justices ruled that a Civil War-era constitutional provision barring certain officials who "engaged in insurrection" from holding federal office applies to Trump for attempting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021.
The state court stayed its ruling until Jan. 4, 2024 — one day before Colorado election officials are required to certify the March 5 presidential primary ballot — to allow for Trump's certain appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Colorado Republican Party, which intervened in the Colorado lawsuit on Trump's side, cheered the prospect of a reversal by the high court.
"Thank God the U.S. Supreme Court will get the final say against the out-of-control radicals in charge of Colorado who would rather spit on our Constitution than let the people decide which candidates should represent them in a free and fair election," the state GOP said in a statement.
In a fundraising appeal to supporters following the ruling, the Colorado Republicans put it bluntly: "If they can get away with removing Donald Trump from the ballot, then they can do it to any Republican candidate our Party puts forward. Help stop them and chip in now!"
The chairman of Colorado's Democratic Party offered a more measured response to the decision.
“The court has reviewed this case with the seriousness these issues demand," state Democratic chair Shad Murib said in a text message. "We understand this decision may be appealed and respect the legal process.”
Trump's campaign vowed in a statement to "swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court" and predicted a favorable ruling.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat, praised Tuesday's decision.
"The Colorado Supreme Court has it right," tweeted Crow, one of the House managers who prosecuted Trump's first impeachment trail in 2020.
"The Constitution protects the right to vote and bars candidates who abuse the process or engage in insurrection. Donald Trump has done both."
His GOP colleague, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, however, tore into the court and its ruling.
"With today's ruling, the leftists on the Colorado Supreme Court have participated in extreme judicial activism that is designed to suppress the vote and voices of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. This is absolutely unacceptable," the Silt Republican said in a statement. "I am confident the U.S. Supreme Court will remedy this horrible decision so Coloradans will have the right to cast their ballot for our 45th and 47th President, Donald J. Trump."
Added Boebert: "We will fight this every step of the way!"
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican and former prosecutor, made a similar point.
"This is the wrong decision," Buck tweeted. "Voters deserve to decide who they do or don’t support."
Noting that a 2018 Colorado Supreme Court ruling keeping him from the ballot was swiftly reversed in federal court, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn predicted that Tuesday's decision would meet the same fate.
“I look forward to this case going to federal courts that will respect and understand the Constitution so they can overturn this egregious decision," the Colorado Springs Republican said via a spokeswoman, in a text message to Colorado Politics.
Sara Loflin, executive director of left-leaning advocacy organization ProgressNow Colorado, called the ruling a "victory" for the rule of law and the Constitution, adding that the court majority aptly understood "the plain meaning of words that our elected officials swear in their oaths of office."
“After more gaslighting from disgraced former President Trump and his attorney Scott Gessler, Colorado’s Supreme Court saw through the lies and validated the plain truth that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection on January 6 and was disqualified from office," said Loflin in a statement.
Two Republicans seeking the nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in one of Colorado's battleground congressional districts tweeted similar statements slamming the ruling.
"This is outrageous, unprecedented, and undemocratic," said Weld County Commissioner Scott James. "President Trump is the leading candidate for the presidency. The Colorado Supreme Court cannot be permitted to take away our right to vote for him."
Said state Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton: "Today's 4-3 ruling by the lib-dominated CO Supreme Court, siding with a far-left, dark-money group, barring Trump from ballot is deeply flawed & subjective and sets a terrible precedent that states can bar candidates based on political whims. Let the people decide!"
Former Republican Rob Witwer, a former state representative from Evergreen who left the GOP during the Trump administration, put a different spin on his reaction to the ruling.
"Four unelected judges just took away my right to vote against Donald Trump," Witwer tweeted.
